CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — JuJu Watkins scored 18 points, despite having an off-shooting night, and helped No. 10 USC beat 11th-ranked Oregon State 58-50 on Sunday.
The 6-foot-2 freshman guard, who is the second-leading scorer in Division 1 behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, was just 6 of 32 from the field in her worst shooting performance of the season.
Despite Watkins’ struggles on the offensive end, USC (20-4, 10-4 Pac-12) extended its winning streak to six games, while the Beavers’ six-game winning streak came to an end.
“She had a rough shooting night. Her teammates had her back,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said of Watkins, who is averaging 28 points per game. “She still went to the boards. She still makes winning plays and if we can win when she’s not at her best scoring the ball, I think that says a lot about our team.”
Oregon State (21-4, 10-4 Pac-12) has defended Watkins well in both meetings this season. In USC’s 58-56 home win over the Beavers on Jan. 5, Watkins scored 28 points on 11 of 33 from the field.
Oregon State junior guards Talia von Oelhoffen and AJ Marotte had the primary defensive assignment on Watkins, but they had plenty of help.
“We played her really well down there as well,” Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said. “Stay in front. That’s really the trick.”
Watkins had few uncontested looks in the game, and her mid-range jumper wasn’t falling.
“Obviously she’s a great player,” von Oelhoffen said. “You’re not going to stop her from getting the ball or from getting shots up. Just taking her out of her A game and her B game, getting her to that C game and doing what you can to impact the shot. Just staying in the way the whole game, making her uncomfortable.”
Oregon State makes most teams uncomfortable on the defensive end. The Beavers lead the Pac-12 and rank fifth nationally in opponents field goal percentage.
Rayah Marshall added 11 points and 17 rebounds for the Trojans, who never trailed. McKenzie…
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